Glass Wings Blog

The Glass Wings mailing list and blog is for general idle chit-chat about things we find interesting, especially humor, animation or other subjects relevant to the Glass Wings web site.

Concerns ‘AI slop’ used by University of Sydney-based institute to lobby for $20m gambling education funding

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:11:46 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/10/concerns-ai-slop-used-by-sydney-university-based-institute-to-lobby-for-20m-gambling-education-funding>

"The independent senator David Pocock says he is “deeply concerned” that a
report sent to politicians by a University of Sydney-based institute to support
a $20m funding request for gambling education “appears to just be slop written

If fracking begins in the Kimberley, it could damage a sacred river

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:10:12 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/if-fracking-begins-in-the-kimberley-it-could-damage-a-sacred-river-274631>

"Under the soils of the Kimberley lies one of the world’s last undeveloped
large-scale reservoirs of onshore gas, according to the gas company hoping to
extract it.

Drawings of Kangaroo Island fossils provide inspiration for stamp series

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:09:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/11/drawings-of-kangaroo-island-fossils-provide-inspiration-for-stamp-series>

"Prehistoric fossils from Kangaroo Island have been transformed into vibrant
creatures of the deep for a series of artworks, which in turn have been made
into a series of stamps.

Bunnings decision may open door to facial recognition surveillance free-for-all

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:07:58 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/bunnings-decision-may-open-door-to-facial-recognition-surveillance-free-for-all-275392>

"A seemingly minor decision handed down last week by the Administrative Review
Tribunal may open the door to widespread use of facial recognition technology
in shops and other privately owned spaces in Australia.

The Age of Electricity is a massive opportunity for Australia, if it can match China’s speed and scale

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:07:17 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-age-of-electricity-is-a-massive-opportunity-for-australia-if-it-can-match-chinas-speed-and-scale/>

"The International Energy Agency (IEA) has announced “the Age of Electricity”
in its latest report – Electricity 2026 – which highlights the rapid growth
of global electrification over 2020-2025, now forecast to accelerate to 3.6%

Want a tall, smart child? How IVF tests are selling a dream

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:06:08 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/want-a-tall-smart-child-how-ivf-tests-are-selling-a-dream-275211>

"Prospective parents are being marketed genetic tests that claim to predict
which IVF embryo will grow into the tallest, smartest or healthiest child.

New video game sees Africans fantasise about taking back looted treasures

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:23:14 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyg4lgm1d2o

“Imagine it is 2099 and the Transatlantic Returns Treaty is falling apart as
Western museums find ways to wriggle out of promises to return stolen African
treasures.

Cybersecurity: February 10, 2026

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:20:56 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.patreon.com/posts/cybersecurity-10-150379364

"This week: Discord alternatives (ranked) to its doomed new age-check policy
after losing age-check data in a huge hack, US states are scrambling for
election security solutions after CISA abandons them, horrific reports of AI

Trump administration removes LGBTQ+ Pride flag from Stonewall national monument

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:20:01 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/lgbtq-pride-flag-stonewall-trump-removal>

"The Trump administration has removed a large pride flag from the Stonewall
national monument in New York City, marking the latest move by the federal
government to end diversity initiatives and sanitize the history shared in

Buddhist monks' 108-day Walk for Peace ends in Washington DC

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:18:30 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g75wer084o

"A band of Buddhist monks who have spent four months walking - sometimes
barefoot or through the snow - on a 2,000-mile march from Texas to Washington
DC completed their journey on Tuesday.